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PHOTO:  Utricularia AIR SHOOT

Some aquatic species of Utricularia (in the section Utricularia ) are long known to form filiform shoots branching out from a stem, with a small rounded tip. These organs produced in the water are termed "air shoots". The exact purpose or reason for the formation of air shoots is not known.

In time, the tip develops into a leafy organ, and becomes, not unexpectedly, a leaf- and bladder-bearing stem. The original long shoot eventually melts away and a new plant is separated from the mother ship. This appears to be a mechanism for asexual reproduction for the species.

I do not know why this special mechanism is needed for vegetative reproduction, because even in regular branching from the main stem, branches often detach themselves from the main body of the plant and become separate plants. Maybe this is a rapid deployment scheme to produce multiple individuals in a short period of time.

I would consider air shoots a Utricularia version of "gemmae" seen in pygmy sundews.

Air shoots are produced randomly from the Utricularia stems....

PHOTO:  Utricularia AIR SHOOT

The tip of a newly formed air shoot.

PHOTO:  Utricularia AIR SHOOT

The tip becomes larger and a leaf structure emerges.

PHOTO:  Utricularia AIR SHOOT

In time, an air shoot develops into, you guessed it, another bladderwort.

Nikon D300 + AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm F2.8 + Flash